Young Americans

I saw The Young Americans in 1967 at the Cameo Theater on Washington Avenue and 13th Street in Miami Beach. I recall enjoying the singing of this highly talented group of "Young Americans". This film was made right before the explosion of 1968 & the "Hippie" movement which swept the "Young Americans". What really stands out to me was how the talented Ken Prymus went from being so slim and trim in this film to so heavy in the movie M.A.S.H. only three years later. I was so shocked that he had gained about 100 pounds. A really great singer and talent, whose weight increase, I feel, ruined a very promising singing career.

A cute film which captures an innocence which has long gone.

The Young Americans singing group go on a bus tour to win a trip to Europe against other high-school groups. There's lots of old-fashioned songs sung throughout this road picture, and that's the point of the whole thing. Curiously, it won the Oscar for Best Documentary of 1968. Then they found out it played in 1967 and took it back.

It's pretty good for the style of music, but it's far more polished than the rockumentaries that were coming into fashion, and the air of unreality about it makes it seem a bit off. With Vicki Lawrence as Vicki Lawrence; she certainly resembles herself.

The ennui of touring the world has never been so painstakingly detailed. We get interesting insights into the music and interrelational politics of the young singing group but it goes on long after it has ceased entertaining its audience. Nevertheless, this representative time capsule is worth a glance.

I'm not sure how this qualifies as a documentary since most of the scenes are clearly staged, the dialogue scripted, and performed (poorly) by the kids. The film's limited charms include the pre-"Glee" rehearsal and performance scenes, and a teenage, pre-redhead Vicki Lawrence.

This film starts out well enough, and there is a definite curiosity as to how this supposed 'documentary' is going to approach its subject. But if the viewer is expecting a candid, objective outsider's glimpse into the workings of the Young Americans singing ensemble, thy are soon let down, as the classic documentary approach is quickly discarded.

After the first 30 minutes or so, one cannot dismiss the feeling that the participants are acting out scripted parts. And from there, the narrative morphs into a perky travelogue of posed situations, forced joviality, and cardboard dialogue. Instead of a documentary, it winds up having the look and feel of the type of movie a 60's Pop act would have put into theatres in order to milk their popularity. One might be remined of such vanity vehicles conceived for The Monkees or Herman's Hermits. The only thing missing is the animated Saturday morning Young Americans cartoon show.

Given the period in American history when the Young Americans- and similar groups like 'Up With People" and the Johnny Mann Singers - were pushing their wholesome ever-optimistic vision at a time of tremendous social and political upheaval, a true documentary would have tapped into the obvious contrast to some extent. The film perhaps works best as nostalgia, and no one can fault the material for having dated. But it ends up coming off as insincere and disappointing.